Dr Anas Ramli, 32, was charged with five counts of producing pornographic pictures of five children, aged between seven and 11, while on duty at Kemaman Hospital between December 2022 and February 2023.

The accused claimed trial after the charges were read to him before judge Wan Suhaila Mohd.

The charges were framed under Sections 5 and 16(1) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. Section 5 carries a punishment of imprisonment of up to 30 years and six strokes, upon conviction.

Section 16(1), on the other hand, provides for an additional sentence of up to five years and two strokes due to the relationship of trust between the offender and the victim.

Anas was also accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old in a treatment room at the hospital between 5.45pm and 6.40pm on Feb 8 last year. For this offence, he was charged under Sections 14(a) and 16(1)(a) of the same act.

The accused was released on bail of RM30,000 with one surety.

The prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutor Syairah Razali while the accused was represented by lawyer Faizal Rahman.

Separately, Anas also pleaded not guilty at the Kemaman magistrates’ court to a charge of possessing pornography on his phone.

The offence was allegedly committed on Nov 1, 2022, between 7.30am and 10am at Kemaman Hospital’s operating theatre.

The charge was framed under Section 292 of the Penal Code, which carries a punishment of imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both, if found guilty.

Magistrate Sharifah Amirda Shasha allowed bail of RM3,500 with one surety and prohibited the accused from harassing or approaching witnesses during the proceedings.

The case was handled by deputy public prosecutor Nur Azhani Azman. The case will come up for mention again next month.